The Wonders of Link 16 For Less: MIDS-LVTs

August 24/15: Two firms have been awarded contracts totaling $880.8 million to produce and maintain the tri-service Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (LVT) communications system (MIDS-LVT). ViaSat Inc. and Data Link Solutions LLC (a Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems joint venture) have been handed IDIQ contracts potentially valuing $514.3 million and $366.5 million respectively, with these lasting five years. The MIDS-LVT system facilitates the exchange of real-time situational awareness data and voice communication using Link 16 connection on various platforms.

Keep reading for the whole story with recent events put in context

Link 16 Display
(click to see situation)

What one sees, all see. Jam-resistant Link-16 radios automatically exchange battlefield information – particularly locations of friendly and enemy aircraft, ships and ground forces – among themselves in a long-range, line-of-sight network. For example, air surveillance tracking data from an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft can be instantly shared with fighter aircraft and air defense units. More than a dozen countries have installed Link 16 terminals on over 19 different land, sea, and air platforms, making it an interoperability success story.

While recent advancements may make AESA radars the future transmitters of choice, Link 16 is the current standard. The Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS LVTs) were developed by a multinational consortium to provide Link 16 capability at a lower weight, volume, and cost than the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). This free-to-view DID Spotlight article throws a spotlight on the program, explaining Link 16, and covering associated contracts around the world.

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The MIDS-LVT Program

“Link 16 provides real-time, jam-resistant secure transfer of combat data, voice and relative navigation information between widely dispersed battle elements. Participants gain situational awareness by exchanging digital data over a common communication link that is continuously and automatically updated in real time, reducing the chance of fratricide, duplicate assignments or missed targets. Each participant in the communication link is able to electronically see the battle space, including assigned targets or threats. The DLS MIDS LVT represents the latest generation of Link 16 equipment incorporating secure data and voice into a single, small, affordable and highly reliable unit.”

The MIDS program was inaugurated via a Memorandum of Understanding amongst the founding MIDS nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the United States). It is managed by the U.S. Navy MIDS International Program Office in San Diego, CA, whose responsibilities include management of several versions of MIDS terminals for the US Navy, Air Force, Army and international militaries.

DLS on MIDS

MIDS Low-Volume Terminals (LVTs) are on most U.S. Air Force fighters, bombers and tankers, most U.S. Navy aircraft, ships, and US bases and air defense systems. Other NATO countries have generally been slower and less comprehensive in their implementations, but Link 16 is often installed on fighters, surveillance and patrol aircraft of all types, and air defense systems. Some countries have even taken extra steps, and installed broader network management and transmission systems to extend Link 16’s reach within defined territories.

The MIDS-LVT (1) family is the “airborne terminal,” but it is also used by some ground units. In addition to basic Link 16 functionality:

The MIDS LVT (2) family does not implement TACAN, since it’s the “ground terminal,” but it is also used by some airborne units:

The LVT (2) does not implement Voice.

The LVT (11) does implement Voice. Sometimes written LVT-2/11.

LVT-2/11 is specifically designed for U.S. Army Patriot Information Coordination Central (ICC) and Battery Command Posts, Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control Units (FAAD C2) and surface launched missiles, along with U.S. Air Force Air Operations Centers and Joint Interface Control Officer Support Systems. Future upgrades for the terminal are expected to include enhanced throughput, frequency remapping, and improved cryptography.

There is also a MIDS on ship (MOS) implementation, which is a separate type of equipment that performs key Link 16 functions. It serves in the US Navy, and in many allied navies as well.

Into the Future: FAST, MIDS JTRS, and Beyond

Right now, there are a pair of efforts underway to improve Link 16 based connectivity. One is BAE Systems’ Flexible Access Secure Transfer (FAST) waveform, aimed at upgrading older aircraft using Link 16 terminals. FAST aggregates unused time slots within Link 16 to boost throughput from 256kbps up to 1Mbps.

A more advanced solution is also underway. Data Link Solutions (DLS) and ViaSat are collaborating on the forthcoming MIDS JTRS/ MIDS-J, which will have a software-controlled architecture. JTRS is expected to be the foundation of future US radio-based communications.

Within the same volume as the MIDS-LVT, the software-defined MIDS-JTRS will be able to handle Link 16 with NSA certified encryption, Link-16 Enhanced Throughput (ET) and Link-16 Frequency Remapping (FR). It will also have TACAN (a tactical air navigation aid providing range and bearing from a beacon), UHF or VHF, and the Wideband Networking Waveform as communication options, and additional capabilities are implemented on 3 additional programmable channels from 2 MHz – 2 GHz. The US military wants to be able to upgrade MIDS-JTRS by simply removing an older MIDS LVT-1 module, and installing the new MIDS-JTRS module in the aircraft as a plug-and-play upgrade.

Once that is accomplished, other possibilities open up. Because MIDS-JTRS is a software-defined system, new capabilities can be added within the limits of a module’s on-board processing and storage capabilities.

One option under development is called the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) waveform. TTNT is an IP-based, auto-forming mesh network that can easily admit over 200 new platforms (aircraft, UAVs, weapons, etc.) closing at up to Mach 8, so long as they have the right encryption and use TDMA transmissions. Dynamic TDMA-based networks usually have latency issues and are very complex; TTNT claims to have simplified this by using something called Statistical Priority-Based Multiple Access (SPMA) to automatically prioritize traffic. Communications satellite destroyed? No problem; indeed, that’s the point of TTNT. So long as TTNT-enabled platforms can transmit to each other, they have a network together and can share enemy positions over Link-16, sensor data, or even use TTNT to help with automated take-off and landing. Optimum throughput is said to be about 10 Mbps of system traffic at a range of 300 nmi.

Another capability under development is Talon HATE, a pod that uses MIDS-J’s programmable flexibility to enable communication with stealth fighters like the F-22, which use different datalinks in order to avoid revealing their position.

The 1st platforms to reach Initial Operational Capability MIDS-JTRS will be the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter family, the E-8C JSTARS battlefield surveillance & communication aircraft, and the RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic eavesdropping plane. Full production and fielding of MIDS JTRS generally was approved in April 2012.

MIDS JTRS has also been slated for the EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare variant of the Hercules turboprop, under limited production & fielding. Future US Navy platforms will include the E-2 Hawkeye AWACS plane, as well the Navy’s aircraft carriers, destroyers, and cruisers. The USAF will eventually field it on F-15E Strike Eagles, its B-1B and B-52H bombers, Special Operations aircraft (mostly C-130 variants like the Compass Call), and Ground C2 & ISR units. Other aircraft will continue to use existing MIDS terminals, and so will US Army systems.

Members of EuroMIDS are also collaborating in these efforts, and will probably produce MIDS JTRS in the future. Thales and Data Link Solutions, for example, already have a June 2006 agreement to that effect. On the other hand, the US National Security Agency had not approved the programmable cryptographic keys for foreign users, as of April 2012. Until that approval is forthcoming, it will force buyers outside America to either continue buying MIDS-LVTs, or take the problematic route of incorporating their own cryptography into MIDS JTRS.

MIDS/ Link 16 Contracts & Key Events: FY 2004 – Present

Unless otherwise noted, the US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA issues these contracts. Delivery orders are competitively procured, typically with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received via the SPAWAR e-commerce web site, after the synopsis is first released via the US Federal Business Opportunities web site.

Note that Data Link Solutions is a BAE Systems/ Rockwell Collins joint venture with its headquarters in Cedar Rapids, IA. EuroMIDS is another joint venture which includes Thales (France), Selex (Italy), EADS (Germany) and INDRA (Spain).

FY 2015

August 24/15: Two firms have been awarded contracts totaling $880.8 million to produce and maintain the tri-service Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (LVT) communications system (MIDS-LVT). ViaSat Inc. and Data Link Solutions LLC (a Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems joint venture) have been handed IDIQ contracts potentially valuing $514.3 million and $366.5 million respectively, with these lasting five years. The MIDS-LVT system facilitates the exchange of real-time situational awareness data and voice communication using Link 16 connection on various platforms.

August 7/15:The Defense Department wants to upgrade US AV-8B Harriers with the Link 16 datalink system. The proposed $71.5 million, six-year upgrade is currently in the DoD’s FY2016 budget request, but if designated for re-programming, Harriers could begin to receive the new equipment this year through a $7.5 million acquisition. With the AV-8B fleet scheduled for retirement in 2025, the tactical datalink system will enable the older aircraft to integrate with more modern platforms, including the F-35.

FY 2014

MIDS-LVT Block 2 development; TTNT added to MIDS-JTRS.

TTNT

Sept 16/14: Talon HATE. Boeing Advanced Network & Space Systems, Phantom Works has completed the final design review for the USAF’s Talon HATE pod program, which is designed to enable existing fighters to share information with F-22s over stealth-friendly secure datalinks. The core of this effort integrates the same IFDL datalink used on F-22As with MIDS-JTRS, which can generate different waveforms concurrently. Fighters equipped with the Talon HATE pod can bridge the gap between the F-22A and everyone else, serving as a distribution node over more universal modes like Link-16. As a bonus, pod-equipped fighters also get IRST long-range infrared to find targets – a method that bypasses radar stealth. This is especially useful against low-flying cruise missiles.

Note that unarmed platforms like the BACN UAVs and business jets can already handle datalink bridging, but you wouldn’t take them into enemy airspace. Hence the fighter pod approach. Tactically, Talon HATE allows the F-22 to act as a “bird dog” forward observer of sorts, transmitting the position of enemy aircraft and key ground systems to pod-equipped legacy fighters, who share the data with the rest of the force. To the extent that legacy fighters employ new missiles with full 2-way datalinks and compatibility with F-22 retargeting, the F-22s could even serve as terminal guidance. The idea isn’t entirely new, and was demonstrated during the Northern Edge 2006 exercise when F-22s were used to find opponents whose positioning behind obstacles made them invisible to standard AWACS (q.v. Key Events, June 9-16/06). What’s new is the ability to do this without giving away the F-22’s position: Talon HATE is an initial effort, and may be followed by a “5-to-4” program.

F-15C air superiority fighters are Talon HATE’s initial platform, but MIDS-JTRS is being deployed on the US Navy’s multi-role F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, as is expected to spread to other fighters as a standard. Boeing is scheduled to deliver several Talon HATE systems to operational F-15C squadrons in 2015. Sources: Boeing, “Boeing Completes Design Review for U.S. Air Force’s Talon HATE Program”.

Aug 19/14: TTNT. US SPAWAR in San Diego, CA issues a pair of contracts to add the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) waveform to MIDS-JTRS, and take development through to Critical Design Review. Work is expected to be complete by Aug 19/17.

TTNT is designed to significantly increase operational Link-16 networks’ capacities, improve network performance, and provide more capable and flexible Link-16 network configurations. In concrete terms, it’s an IP-based, auto-forming mesh network that can easily admit over 200 new platforms (aircraft, UAVs, weapons, etc.) closing at up to Mach 8, so long as they have the right encryption and use TDMA transmissions. Dynamic TDMA-based networks usually have latency issues and are very complex; TTNT claims to have simplified this by using something called Statistical Priority-Based Multiple Access (SPMA) to automatically prioritize traffic. Communications satellite destroyed? No problem; indeed, that’s the point of TTNT. So long as TTNT-enabled platforms can transmit to each other, they have a network together and can share enemy positions, sensor data, or even help to enable automated take-off and landing. Optimum throughput is said to be about 10 Mbps of system traffic at a range of 300 nmi.

Data Link Solutions, LLC in Cedar Rapids, IA wins a $124.3 million multiple award contract modification, which provides the necessary scope increase. $11.6 million in FY 2014 US Navy RDT&E funds is committed immediately. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (30%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (70%) (N00039-10-D-0031).

ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA wins a $72.7 million multiple award contract modification, which provides the necessary scope increase. $11.6 million in FY 2014 US Navy RDT&E funds is committed immediately. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (N00039-10-D-0031).

MIDS-JTRS adding TTNT

July 30/14: Support. US SPAWAR issues a combined $116.75 million modification to an existing multiple award contract, exercising options for MIDS-LVT and MIDS-JTRS engineering and integration. Awards will be issued as task orders when necessary, and work is expected to be complete by March 9/15. The original contract was competitively procured as a multiple award contract via FBO.gov and SPAWAR e-Commerce Central, with 2 proposals solicited, 2 offers received, and 2 contracts issued:

For Data Link Solutions, LLC, in Cedar Rapids, IA (N00039-10-D-0031), work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%) and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%).

For ViaSat, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA (N00039-10-D-0032), work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA.

Nov 4/13: Block 2. BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. in Wayne, NJ receives a $48 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification for MIDS-LVT systems engineering and integration. This includes a corresponding delivery order for MIDS-LVT Block Upgrade 2 software and test equipment on behalf of the USA, France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ and is expected to be complete by March 2017. $1.6 million is committed immediately, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept 30/14. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-4 International Agreement, 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(4) (N00039-10-D-0060, #0015).

Nov 4/13: Block 2. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives up to $39.2 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification for MIDS-LVT production and engineering services, including a delivery order for MIDS-LVT Block Upgrade 2 design and development on behalf of the United States.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA, and is expected to be complete by Dec 31/16. $1.3 million is committed immediately, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept 30/14. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) (N00039-10-D-0032, #0035).

Nov 4/13: Block 2. Data Link Solutions LLC in Cedar Rapids, IA receives up to $32.9 million as a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification for MIDS-LVT production and engineering services, including a delivery order for MIDS-LVT Block Upgrade 2 development and retrofits on behalf of the USA.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by Dec 31/16. $1.5 million is committed immediately, and these funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept 30/14. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) (N00039-10-D-0031, #0043).

FY 2013

Aug 5/13: US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, CA issues $33.1 million in contracts for MIDS-LVTs.

ViaSat Inc. in Carlsbad, CA receives a $21.7 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the USA (47%), Australia (22%), Oman (16%) and Thailand (15%), and all funds are committed immediately. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and in various other locations worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by July 31/15. $980,030 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/13 (N00039-10-D-0032, #0031).

Data Link Solutions in Cedar Rapids, IA receives an $11.4 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the USA (71%), Poland (8%), Japan (8%), Australia (5%), UAE (5%) and Saudi Arabia (3%). All funds are committed immediately. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2015. $894,200 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/13 (N00039-10-D-0031, #0039).

MIDS-LVTs

July 10/13: MIDS JTRS CMN-4. US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, CA issues a pair of MIDS JTRS cost-plus-incentive-fee delivery orders, involving the design & implementation of a major bandwidth expansion. MIDS JTRS is a 4-channel, software-defined system. CMN-4 implements 4 nets of concurrent multi-netting (hence the name) with concurrent contention receive, in order to take full advantage of that architecture. Not only does it improve Link-16’s bandwidth, it also improves network flexibility and performance. There are only 2 suppliers for this, so the delivery orders weren’t competitively procured, per 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1).

Data Link Solutions LLC in Wayne, NJ receives $33.4 million. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (88%) and Cedar Rapids, IA (12%), and is expected to be complete by March 7/15. $28.7 million in FY 2012 RDT&E funds is committed immediately, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept 30/13 (N00039-10-D-0031, #0037).

ViaSat Inc. in Carlsbad, CA receives $19.5 million. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA, and and is expected to be complete by March 7/15. $16.8 million in FY 2012 RDT&E funds is committed immediately, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept 30/13 (N00039-10-D-0032, #0029).

R&D: CMN-4 bandwidth & capability expansion

June 28/13: Support. US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, CA issues a pair of engineering research & support contracts for MIDS-LVT and MIDS-JTRS terminals. The total set of available funds is $166.3 million, but it’s a multiple-award contract, with task orders issued between the 2 qualified firms until March 9/14. Neither firm will receive their theoretical maximum, because SPAWAR isn’t about to move to a sole supplier.

ViaSat, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA will perform any task orders at their single site (N00039-10-D-0032).

Feb 4/13: Crypto.ViaSat announces a $34 million dollar firm-fixed-price contract to design, development, and deliver a new LCM cryptographic module, as part of MIDS-LVT Block Upgrade 2.

They’ll use their PSIAM cryptographic technology, which they tout as being “based entirely on commercial off the shelf (COTS) components”. The module they develop will be designed to be integrated into a variety of MIDS-LVT hardware variants. Indeed, award covers development, then production of 10,000 LCMs to retrofit all of America’s MIDS-LVT hardware.

R&D: Crypto upgrade

Jan 23/13: DLS JV extended. BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins decide to extend their Data Link Solutions joint venture, and hold a ceremonial signing at the Carnegie Library in Washington, DC. DLS was established in 1996.

DLS touts their support of 33 countries operating on Link-16, with an installed base of 6,000 terminals worldwide, and a portfolio of more than $2 billion in product orders. They also highlight the fact that they’re the only provider of all Link-16 variants, which they hope will position them for upgrade work.

Data Link Systems JV extended

Jan 17/13: DOT&E testing. The Pentagon releases the FY 2012 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). MIDS JTRS is included, and there’s some good news: FY 2012 testing showed that many of the 2010 IOT&E test’s deficiencies (q.v. November 2010 entry) have been fixed.

MIDS JTRS on the Super Hornet is now operationally effective and suitable (maintainable). IOT&E 84% success for fine sync is now 99%, with 100% of air-to-air messages exchanged successfully, and system reliability up from IOT&E’s critical failure mean time of 8.1 hours/ 68% to 21.6 hours/ 99%. The only problem left is the false alarm rate, which is 1 per 5.9 hours instead of 1 per 113.0.

MIDS JTRS on the E-8C JSTARS was declared operationally effective and suitable, but with limitations. The system worked, with no terminal failures in 114.3 hours of testing. The problem is that terminal operators had display problems, which needs to be fixed.

Finally, The US Navy is continuing development of 2 major MIDS JTRS increments: CMN-4 (Link 16 four-channel Concurrent Multi-Netting with Concurrent Retention Receive) and TTNT (Tactical Targeting Networking Technology). These new capabilities may require significant hardware and software design changes to the MIDS JTRS core terminal, as well as modifications to host platforms for TTNT. That adds considerable technical risk, and will require extensive testing.

Dec 18/12: ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $12.8 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs from the USA (44%), from Germany (8%) under the MIDS Program Memorandum of Understanding, and from Oman (48%) as a Foreign Military Sale.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by July 31/14. All contract funds are committed. This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract (MAC) via the SPAWAR E-commerce website, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, CA (N00039-10-D-0032).

Aug 9/12: Lot 13. DLS in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded an $18.5 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (33%) and the governments of Saudi Arabia (38%), Finland (27%), and the Republic of Korea (3%).

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by Jan 31/15. This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract (MAC), with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received via the SPAWAR E-commerce website, following a synopsis on FBO.gov (N00039-10-D-0031).

Aug 9/12: Lot 13. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives an $18 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs from the US military. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and is expected to be completed by July 31/14. $402,756 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12.

This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract (MAC), with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received via the SPAWAR E-commerce website, following a synopsis on FBO.gov (N00039-10-D-0032).

Developmental testing for the entire Sustainment-Block 16 package, which includes a number of other items, is scheduled to begin March 2013. Under the current program schedule, the 337th TES squadron will begin operational testing September 2013.

May 2/12: Taiwan. DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA receives a $9.4 million firm-fixed-price delivery order to Taiwan of MIDS-LVT terminals, as a Foreign Military Sale transaction. Note the previous Feb 27/12 announcement regarding Taiwan’s P-3C maritime patrol planes, and its Ground Link-16 Program.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by Dec 31/14. This contract was competitively procured via FBO.gov and the SPAWAR E-commerce website, with 2 offers received. The competition was real, as Taiwan has shifted its buys back and forth over time. US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, CA manages the contract, on behalf of its FMS client (N00039-10-D-0031).

Taiwan

April 10/12: Per the April 4/12 entry that announced resolution of ViaSat’s quality issues to the Pentagon’s satisfaction, ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA wins a $31.5 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS JTRS systems.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (47%); Melbourne, FL (15.8%); Gilbert, AZ (14.2%); and other sites in the United States (23%), and is expected to be completed by February 2014. This contract is the result of a limited competition via the SPAWAR E-commerce website and FBO.gov, with 2 solicited proposals and 2 offers received (N00039-10-D-0032). See also ViaSat release.

April 10/12: DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA wins a $25.8 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS JTRS systems.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by February 2014. This contract is the result of a limited competition via the SPAWAR E-commerce website and FBO.gov, with 2 solicited proposals and 2 offers received (N00039-10-D-0031).

MIDS JTRS award – to both vendors

April 4/12: MIDS-JTRS Approved for FP&F. Re-tests must have shown improvement since October 2011. The MIDS JTRS terminal is approved for Full Production and Fielding by Mr. Frank Kendall, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

“Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) – Program costs increased $348.2 million (+13.1%) from $2,662.2 million to $3,010.4 million, due primarily to additional development and integration of the Concurrent Multi-Netting (CMN-4) capability (+$195.0 million) and the Tactical Targeting Network Technology waveform (+$91.0 million) into the MIDS Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) terminal. In addition, there was a quantity increase of 230 MIDS terminals from 5,028 to 5,258 terminals (+$79.0 million).”

SAR: more MIDS

Feb 27/12: Taiwan. DLS announces a $3.8 million contract for MIDS-LVTs, for Taiwan’s P-3 and Ground Link-16 Program. This program will allow Taiwan’s new sea control aircraft to share data in real time with Link-16 equipped counterparts. The U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) acts as Taiwan’s FMS agent.

Taiwan P-3s

Feb 9/12: South Korea. DLS announces a $5.5 million contract to provide MIDS-LVTs for the Republic of Korea Air Force’s KF-16 fighters. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ, and Cedar Rapids, IA.

The DLS Waddington Support Facility, located at RAFB Waddington, will provide the sustainment, engineering and design support services, reducing maintenance time and costs, and eliminating shipment back to the USA. Technologies covered will include Link 16 Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) terminals, Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals, and the AN/URC-138v1C Information Distribution System.

Jan 17/12: DOT&E testing report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2011 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). MIDS-JTRS is included, and the system is having problems. For starters, some core capabilities like Link 16 Enhanced Data Throughput, and the addition of more JTRS Software Communications Architecture waveforms, can’t be operationally tested, because of “host aircraft configurations and funding availability.”

Beyond that, the report cites the abysmal November 2010 tests on Super Hornet fighters (q.v., below), and ViaSat comes in for special criticism over the quality of its products:

“Post-test causality analysis indicated that manufacturing and quality control problems with ViaSat-produced MIDS JTRS terminals led to new failure modes discovered during IOT&E… Terminal reliability deficiencies [of 63.8 hours MTBF] were primarily found on ViaSat Terminals, as Data Link Solutions Terminals met the threshold requirement of 220 hours, although with a low (<50 percent) confidence level."

July 2011 test data from the E-8C JSTARS battlefield surveillance aircraft tests showed a preliminary pattern of effective Link 16 data and voice transmissions, but possible deficiencies with reliability, with imagery exchange, and with acknowledgements of JSTARS messages by other aircraft. Service Link 16 interoperability testing in December 2011 was meant to clarify.

Sept 22/11: UAE. The US DSCA announces [PDF] the United Arab Emirates’ official request to buy 107 MIDS-LVT/ LINK 16 terminals and associated equipment, parts, training and support. The compact MIDS-LVT assemblies would be installed on its F-16E/F fleet, as well as ground command and control sites, giving its air force a Link-16 network that would help UAE fighters share what they see with each other, and with related forces like American and Saudi AWACS aircraft, similarly-equipped allied fighters, etc.

If a contract is negotiated, it would include the systems, engineering/ integration services, aircraft modification and installation, testing, spare and repair parts, support equipment, repair and return support, personnel training, interface with ground command and control centers and ground repeater sites, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is up to $401 million.

The prime contractor is not set; this will be a competition between DLS and ViaSat. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of additional U.S. Government and contractor representatives to the UAE, which will be negotiated if a contract is signed and the program proceeds.

UAE request

Sept 7/11: Crypto upgrade. US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command issues 2 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery orders for Block Cycle One cryptographic modernization updates to MIDS-JTRS. Both are sole-source acquisitions to the firms in the MIDS-JTRS program, through a March 29/10 synopsis on FBO.gov.

ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $14.1 million delivery order. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by May 6/13. $1.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00039-10-D-0032).

DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA receives an $8 million delivery order. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J. (90%), and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (10%), and is expected to be completed by May 6/13 (N00039-10-D-0031).

July 18/11: Lot 12.DLS announces a direct commercial contract from the NATO Air Command and Control System Management Agency (NACMA) to provide MIDS-LVTs for Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania. The MIDS-LVT terminals are scheduled for delivery in early 2012.

No price or volume information is disclosed. Note that Lithuania has no air force, but can still use ground-based systems.

July 14/11: Lot 12. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $27.6 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for Production Lot 12 MIDS-LVTs, from the United States (97.6%) and the governments of Japan (2.3%) and Australia (0.1%).

The MIDS-LVT Lot 12 order includes LVT (1) airborne terminal variants for F/A-18, EA-18G, E-2D, P-3, EP-3E aircraft and MH-60R/S helicopters, along with terminals for the BACN program and U.S. Air Force applications. It also includes LVT (2) ground/air terminal variants for various US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps applications, as well as terminals for Japan and spares for Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

The order falls under the 5-year contract awarded in 2010. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2012, and continue through March 2013. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and various other sites worldwide (70%), and $3,080,705 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract via SPAWAR’s E-commerce website, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received. US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA manages the contract (N00039-10-D-0032). See also ViaSat.

July 14/11: Lot 12. DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA received a $24 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs, from the United States (91%) and the governments of Australia (6%) and Japan (3%).

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by Jan 31/13. $1,015,448 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract via SPAWAR’s E-commerce website, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-10-D-0031).

MIDS-LVTs

May 31/11: Libya after-action report. In the wake of a 2-day tour of the Rafale detachment at Solenzara, Corsica, Giovanni de Briganti of Defense Aerospace submits a report regarding their performance over Libya. Some of the tidbits that emerge illustrate the uses of Link-16:

“Data from all on-board and off-board sensors are combined into a single tactical picture presented to the pilot on the cockpit’s central color display or, if desired, on one of the lateral displays. The pilot can select the data he wants, combine it with other data, and pass it on to his wingman or to other allied aircraft, ships or ground troops through the Link 16, without speaking a single word on the radio and, if not using the radar, without any transmission whatsoever. Link 16 can also be used to de-conflict assignments with other aircraft without using radios.

To illustrate the Rafale’s networking capabilities, one pilot described how the aircraft can receive target coordinates from an AWACS or another aircraft via Link 16. To accept the assignment, the pilot pushes a button, and the [GPS] coordinates are automatically programmed into the AASM guided bombs, with no further action by the pilot who, once in range (up to 30 nautical miles), again pushes a single button to launch all three – or all six – AASMs to their individual targets.”

MIDS in Libya: French Rafales

Feb 7/11: Germany.EADS Cassidian discusses ongoing upgrades of German Luftwaffe Tornado strike/wild weasel aircraft to the ASSTA 3 (Avionics Software System Tornado Ada) standard. MIDS-LVTs are a key part of that upgrade, which also includes the latest generation radios, a digital video and voice recorder (DVDR), and the dual-guidance Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM). In January 2011, Cassidian in Manching, Germany began the flight testing of a Tornado with an ASSTA 3 hardware and software configuration approximating that of series production. MIDS testing in flight operations is a primary goal.

LJDAM integration and launch behavior has already been verified during test flights in Vidsel, Sweden, in September 2010. As of this release, EADS Cassidian has started to upgrade the first series aircraft in Manching, Germany, and deliveries are scheduled to start in mid-2012.

Feb 7/11: MIDS JTRS. BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. in Wayne, NJ wins a $9.4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Link 16 Software In Service Support for the JPEO-JTRS Network Enterprise Domain. Support efforts include technical support, software maintenance/upgrades, and enhancements to baseline JTRS Link-16 software. This 2-year contract includes 3 one-year options, which could bring the cumulative value of the contract to $24.1 million.

Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (50%) and Wayne, NJ (50%), and work is expected to be completed Feb 6/13. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with 2 viable offers received (N66001-11-D-0057).

Feb 2/11: MIDS JTRS. A pair of MIDS-JTRS contracts to ViaSat and DLS. This contract is the result of a limited competition via the SPAWAR E-commerce website, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities website.

DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA receives an $8.2 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-JTRS. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by February 2012. $4.4 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11 (N00039-10-D-0031).

ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $6.8 million firm-fixed-price delivery order under previously awarded contract for MIDS-JTRS. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30 percent), and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by February 2012. $4.3 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11 (N00039-10-D-0032). The MIDS JTRS terminals are for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic eavesdropping planes, and EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. See also ViaSat.

November 2010: F/A-18E/F Failures. The US Navy completes Initial Operational Test & Evaluation of the MIDS JTRS core terminal integrated into the F/A-18E/F. It doesn’t do very well, receiving a “not operationally effective and not operationally suitable” rating. How bad was it? This bad:

That’s a real problem, because all real-world F/A-18 missions require an operational Link 16 and Tactical Air Navigation capability. If that isn’t working, the plane is out of service. ViaSat comes in for special criticism over the quality of its products, and other deficiencies were traced to errors in the Link 16 waveform software code, poor terminal/ host system integration reliability, and inadequate aircrew and maintenance personnel training.

COTF began the F/A-18E/F MIDS JTRS Verification of Correction of Deficiencies testing on Aug 15/11, at Naval Air Station China Lake, CA. It was scheduled to conclude in December 2011. Source: 2011 DOT&E report.

MIDS-JTRS testing failures

Nov 25/10: Italy.BAE Systems announces a GBP 20 million (about $31 million) contract for 25 Tornado strike aircraft mid-life upgrade kits. Italian Air Force ECR (Electronic Combat/ Reconnaissance) and IDS (Interdictor/Strike) aircraft variants will be recipients of the new equipment, which includes new night vision compatible digital displays, and MIDS-LVTs. The kits will be installed by Alenia at their Caselle factory in Turin, Italy.

Italy Tornados

Oct 20/10: Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy up to 84 F-15SA Strike Eagle fighters, and retrofit its F-15S fleet, includes a request to buy 100 MIDS/LVTs and spares. Read “A 2010 Saudi Shopping Spree” for full coverage.

FY 2010

Sept 27/10: Lot 11. ViaSat Inc. announces an additional $5.5 million order for MIDS-LVTs and spares, in addition to the Lot 11 delivery orders noted on March 11/10.

This new Lot 11 add-on is for LVT (1), LVT (2), LVT (4), and LVT (11) terminals for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force programs, and to support a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) requirement for the Commonwealth of Australia. Terminal deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2011.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (90%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (10%), and is expected to be complete by November 2013. If all options are exercised, work could continue until March 2015. This contract (N00039-10-C-0090) was not competitively procured because DLS is the sole JTIDS manufacturer.

July 13/10: Testing. Tactical Communications Group, LLC announces a contract from Northrop Grumman’s E-8 JSTARS team for multiple TCG BOSS systems, in order to conduct comprehensive testing for Link 16 standards compliance by the new mission system and MIDS-JTRS terminals.

June 15/10: Sweden. DLS announces a $29.6 million MIDS-LVT order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, (FMV). The terminals will be installed on JAS-39 Gripen fighters, Erieye AEW&C airborne radar surveillance aircraft, and various ground and maritime applications. This contract continues a 10-year relationship between DLS and the Swedish military.

Deliveries begin later in 2010, and will continue through 2012. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ; Cedar Rapids, IA; and Heidelberg, Germany.

Sweden JAS-39 Gripens

March 25/10: Lot 11. DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA receives a maximum $5.7 million firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for F-15 aircraft fighter data link system spare parts and installs, on behalf of Foreign Military Sales for Singapore (F-15SG), Japan (F-15J), and Saudi Arabia (F-15S, F-15C/D). There was originally one proposal solicited with one response, and the contract will run until June 30/11. The Defense Logistics Agency at Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA manages the contract (SPRWA1-10-C-0010).

March 11/10: Lot 11. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $21.5 million firm-fixed-price contract and delivery order for MIDS-LVTs, combining purchases for the USA (68%) and Germany (11%); and for Australia (18%) and South Korea (3%) under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Contract funds in the amount of $1.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by Feb 28/12. This contract was competitively procured via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce Web site, with 2 offers received, based on a synopsis released via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site (N00039-10-D-0032).

ViaSat’s March 25/10 release says that this new award includes LVT (1) terminal variants for F/A-18, P-3, and E-2D aircraft; and MH-60R/S helicopters, along with terminals for the BACN program and other U.S. Navy applications. The MIDS-LVT Lot 11 order also includes LVT (2) “ground” terminal variants for various U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Joint Forces applications, as well as terminals for Germany, Australia, and Korea.

March 11/10: Lot 11. DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA, received a $20 million firm-fixed-price contract and delivery order for MIDS-LVTs, combining purchases for the United States (61%) and for the governments of Finland (22%), Japan (8%) and Saudi Arabia (9%) under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by Feb 28/12. Contract funds in the amount of $3.2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce Web site, with 2 offers received, based on a synopsis released via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site (N00039-10-D-0031). Rockwell Collins release

By transmitting information to each other and filtering out duplications, Link 16 dramatically improves awareness, and can help to minimize friendly fire incidents. LVT-1 terminals are used in aircraft, as well as ground units like Patriot missile systems. They include both Tactical Air Navigation System, and voice capabilities.

The prime contractor will be selected through a competitive procurement conducted by the U.S. Government, involving ViaSat and the BAE Systems/ Rockwell Collins joint venture DLS. Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives to participate in training, program management, and technical reviews.

Taiwan request

Jan 14/10: MIDS JTRS. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $14.4 million firm-fixed-price order for MIDS JTRS limited production terminals. The MIDS JTRS terminal is a software communications architecture compliant upgrade to the MIDS-LVT that supports legacy and advanced networking JTRS compliant waveforms enabling integrated navigation, identification, voice and data communications, information security, networking, and networking applications to meet US DoD software defined radio initiatives and requirements. ViaSat will perform the work in Carlsbad, CA (35%) and in various other sites within the US (65%), and expects to complete it by December 2010 (N00039-00-D-2101). ViaSat release.

Initial MIDS JTRS order

Jan 13/10: Mystery F-16s. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received an order valued at $4.8 million for MIDS-LVTs. This award resulted from a competitive procurement for 30 LVT (6) configuration terminals under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). The order will be for MIDS-LVTs for the F-16 fighter jet, but it didn’t specify which country.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $425,983 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order was competitively procured, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce web site, after the synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities web site (N00039-00-D-2100).

June 23/09: Lot 10. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $21 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs that combines purchases for the United States (80%), Germany (13%), and Canada (7%). The Lot 10 production order includes LVT (1) terminal variants for F/A-18+ and E/A-18G aircraft, and MH-60R/S and CH-53K helicopters. The Lot 10 order also includes LVT (2) terminal variants for various U.S. Army and Air Force applications, as well terminals for Canada and Germany.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), in various other sites worldwide (70%). Contract funds in the amount of $3.9 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/09. Delivery of these units is expected to begin in July of 2010, and continue through the end of 2010 (N00039-00-D-2101). See also ViaSat release.

MIDS-LVTs

June 16/09: MIDS JTRS. The USA’s Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) China Lake receives the first pre-qualification Production Transition Terminal (PTT) version of MIDS JTRS from ViaSat, marking the first such delivery to the U.S. government. It’s slated for developmental flight testing on an F/A-18. The MIDS JTRS is completing contractor qualification testing and F/A-18 integration in anticipation of a low-rate initial production order later in summer 2009.

MIDS JTRS is a joint development of ViaSat and DLS, and other partners are also involved. Previous preliminary flight tests at China Lake and Naval Air Station Patuxent River used advanced engineering developmental terminals, referred to as Air Worthiness Terminals (AWTs). ViaSat release.

1st MIDS-JTRS delivery

June 12/09:DLS announces an $18.7 million contract to provide MIDS LVT-1 and LVT-2/11 terminals.

The MIDS LVT-1 terminals will be used on U.S. platforms and, through Foreign Military Sales (FMS), in Belgium, Hungary, Japan and Poland.

MIDS-LVTs

March 30/09: Infrastructure.DLS announces the opening of its Link 16 European Service and Support Facility in Heidelberg, Germany. It will be located within Rockwell Collins Deutschland GmbH’s facility at Grenzhoefer Weg, and will be operated under subcontract by Rockwell Collins Deutschland personnel. The goal is to improve support and turnaround times for European customers in particular, but the facility could serve any global customer who found it convenient.

The new facility will provide MIDS Organizational (“O”) and Intermediate (“I”) Level maintenance and material services, using the recently introduced MIDS Integration and Test Environment (MITE) system. MITE(TM) tests the Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) “black boxes” and identifies the faulty Shop Replaceable Unit (SRU) sub-systems, which can then be replaced with a country-specific or country-supplied SRU spare. The terminal LRU is then retested to ensure readiness.

Oct 9/08: Lot 9.ViaSat Inc. announces an additional order valued at approximately $2.97 million for Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals, augmenting the $59 million worth of Lot 9 delivery orders it has received so far.

This add-on order is for LVT (11) ground-based terminals, with voice capability.

More

FY 2008

Orders from USA, Hungary & Japan; Requests from Finland, Saudi Arabia, UAE; UK Tornados to get Link-16, but not MIDS-LVTs.

The prime contractor will be DLS of Cedar Rapids, IA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi request

Sept 16/08: Lot 9. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $7.1 million firm fixed price delivery order modification from the US military for MIDS-LVTs. Contract funds in the amount of $2.2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The order augments the June 11/08 entry for MIDS Lot IX buys, and consists primarily of LVT (2)/ LVT (11) ground-based Low Volume Terminals, along with LVT (1) airborne terminals. The order boosts ViaSat’s Lot IX orders to $60 million.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by April 2010. This delivery order modification is a follow-on to a competitively procured delivery order, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received via the SPAWAR E-commerce web site (N00039-00-D-2101). See also ViaSat release.

More

Sept 9/08: Finland. The US DSCA announces Finland’s official request for the 3rd phase of the Mid-Life Upgrade Program for its 63 F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters. The request includes 79 MIDS-LVT terminals, and 72 MIDS Electronic Interference Blanking Units. See “Finland Requests 3rd Upgrade Phase for its F-18s” for more.

Finland request

Aug 13/08: UK support.DLS announces a $12.2 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to provide post-design engineering and logistics support services for Britain’s Link 16 communications terminals.

July 18/08: MIDS JTRS. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $9.8 million firm-fixed-price order for MIDS-JTRS Pre-Production Terminals. MIDS-J uses Link 16 and TACAN functions, as well as a trio of 2 MHz – 2 GHz programmable channels. This PTT order is for terminals with the 3-channel 2 MHz – 2GHz capability, as well as terminals with Link 16 and TACAN functionality only. Future terminals will also include improved Link 16 throughput, Link 16 frequency re-mapping, and programmable crypto.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (35%), in various other sites within the U.S. (65%), and is expected to be complete by September 2009. This order was competitively procured, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities web site (N00039-00-D-2101). See also ViaSat release.

June 11/08: Lot 9. ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA receives a $51.9 million firm-fixed-price Lot 9 delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. The new award includes LVT (1) terminals and spares for E-2D Hawkeye, F/A-18 Hornet family, E/A-18G Growler, EA-6B Prowler, and F-16 Falcon aircraft, and MH-60R/S and CH-53K helicopters, and MIDS LVT (2) terminal variants and spares for various U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps applications [TL: 82%]. It also includes MIDS LVT (1) terminals for Portuguese [TL: 6%] and Turkish [TL: 12%] F-16 Falcon fighters.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by April 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $2.4 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00039-00-D-2101). ViaSat release.

June 11/08: Lot 9. DLS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $18.7 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs that combines purchases for the USA (79%) and the governments of Hungary (20%) and Japan, (1%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by April 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $2.4 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00039-00-D-2100).

MIDS-LVTs

June 2/08: MIDS JTRS. DLS announces a recent live demonstration of MIDS-JTRS, involving a MIDS-JTRS form-fit terminal interfacing with a legacy MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT) radio and a Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) beacon simulator. The Link 16 waveform communicated with position and track data being transferred between the radios, while another radio provided range and bearing data from a TACAN beacon simulator.

April 4/08: DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA received a contract for $25.8 million This action will provide repair of 26 National Stock Numbers (NSNs) for the multifunctional information distribution system. Platforms associated with the NSNs include, but are not limited to Joint Interface Control Officer Support System, F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1B and B-2. Robins Air Force Base, GA issued the contract (FA8539-08-D-0002).

Jan 14/08: UK: BAE, not MIDS. The UK announces a GBP 350 million program to upgrade its Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9 fighters. Link 16 is part of the upgrade, but they’ll be using a system from BAE that is smaller, lighter, and combines the MIDS-LVT’s function into a single black box.

Dec 4/07: UAE. The United Arab Emirates requests an unspecified number of MIDS-LVT terminals as part of a $9 billion Foreign Military Sale request to acquire Patriot PAC-2 GEM-T and PAC-3 missile batteries.

July 16/07: Lot 8. Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $44.95 million firm-fixed-price delivery order under previously awarded contract (N00039-00-D-2101) for MIDS-LVT terminals. Contract funds in the amount of $2.5 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and various other sites worldwide (70%). Delivery is expected to begin in June 2008 and be complete by May 2009

The Lot 8 order includes LVT (1) airborne and LVT (2) ground-based Low Volume Terminals under the Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity contract awarded in January 2000. The new award includes U.S. orders [94.8%] covering LVT (1) terminal variants and spares for F/A-18, EA-18G, F-16, and AC-130 aircraft; MH-60R/S and CH-53K helicopters; and LVT (2) ground terminal variants and spares for various Army and Air Force applications.

The Government of Germany [1.7%] requested LVT (2) variant terminals for German ground based applications under the MIDS Program Memorandum of Understanding, and the government of Portugal [3.5%] will receive MIDS LVT (1) variant terminals for Portuguese F-16 aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales program.

During the procurement for Lot 8 the LVT (2) terminal quantities were competed, and ViaSat remains as the only certified producer of LVT (2) terminal variants to date. ViaSat release.

July 13/07: Lot 8. DLS, Cedar Rapids, IA won a $27.6 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVT purchases for the USA (89.4%) and the governments of Belgium (8.8%), Japan (0.6%), and Poland (1.2%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. DLS’ Aug 8/07 release says that the terminals “will be installed on the U.S. Navy F/A-18 and EA-6B, U.S. Air Force F-16, B-1, B-2 and B-52, and on shipboard and foreign platforms.”

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by May 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $2.7 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order was competitively procured, with 2 proposals solicited and 2 offers received via the Space and Naval Warfare E-commerce web site. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities web site (N00039-00-D-2100).

MIDS-LVTs

June 4/07: MIDS JTRS. DLS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded a not-to-exceed $33.7 million undefinitized firm-fixed-price delivery order on April 27, 2007, for MIDS-JTRS Production Transition Terminals (PTTs). Note that DLS is working with Thales Communications in this area.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by April 2009. This requirement was awarded on a sole source basis by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA (N00039-00-D-2100).

June 4/07: MIDS JTRS. Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a not-to-exceed $15.6 million undefinitized firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-JTRS Production Transition Terminals (PTTs). These awards are for non-recurring terminal engineering, terminals to support government air worthiness testing, and the first lot of MIDS JTRS production transition terminals.

Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by April 2009. This requirement was awarded on a sole source basis by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA (N00039-00-D-2101). ViaSat release.

Feb 28/07: Finland. DLS announces that the Finnish Air Force has selected them to supply Link 16 MIDS-LVTs for their F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. The $1 million award is the Finnish Air Force’s F-18 “lead the fleet” order for MIDS airborne terminals, and was conducted as a directed-source Foreign Military Sales procurement through the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) MIDS International Program Office. The award augments the SPAWAR Lot 7 award of $40.2 million for MIDS terminals for use by U.S. and coalition forces.

To date, DLS has been selected to provide Link 16 capability for the F-18 fleets of Finland, Australia, Canada, Greece, Norway, and Switzerland. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ; and Cedar Rapids, IA. DLS news page.

Finland F/A-18s

Feb 13/07: Lot 7.ViaSat announces that in addition to the recent Taiwan order, they also received a $3.1 million add-on award to the Lot 7 delivery order from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego. This add-on covers MIDS LVT (1), LVT (2) and LVT (7) configuration terminals for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force applications. The Lot 7 delivery order was initially announced on July 6/06 and has had multiple add-ons, bringing the total value of Lot 7 to nearly $90 million at present.

Jan 31/07: Taiwan. Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a firm-fixed-price delivery order for $12.05 million for 70 LVT (1) configuration terminals plus spares, destined for the government of Taiwan (100%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by February 2009. This delivery order was competitively procured with 3 offers received via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-commerce web site and released the Federal Business Opportunities web site (N00039-00-D-2101).

In a February 13, 2007 release, ViaSat adds that “The order from Taiwan is very strategic for us… Taiwan has a large fleet of aircraft and we see this initial win as an excellent entry point for future business in Taiwan. We are also very happy with our MIDS terminal market share growth over the past year. These orders bring the value of our terminal awards since June of last year to more than $100 million.”

ViaSat: Taiwan foothold

Jan 30/07: Speed it up! The U.S. Air Force has selected BAE Systems and SRA International to develop the 2nd spiral of the Flexible Access Secure Transfer (FAST) waveform into the MIDS-LVT1. FAST, developed by BAE Systems with a team of engineers from SRA and MITRE, adds mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) interoperable with high-speed Internet Protocol and Link 16 to the MIDS Fighter Data Link. The $7 million contract will enable the MIDS-LVT1 to simultaneously transmit and receive both standard Link 16 and FAST waveform messages, allowing real-time exchange of multimedia communications including data, voice, and video. BAE release.

FAST MIDS

Jan 11/07: Spain support. The Spanish Ministry of Defence’s National Acquisition Division has given EADS Defence & Security Systems Division (DS) a 2-year, EUR 8 million (currently about $10.3 million) contract to support the Spanish Interoperability Management Cell. Their goal is to make sure all of Spain’s Link 16 devices can work well together. These platforms include the MIDS systems in Spain’s Eurofighters and the EF-18 Hornets, Spain’s OGSE-OVU (Operational Ground Support Equipment for the verification of electronic warfare element), the Airbus A400M future transport aircraft, and naval vessels such as the F-100 AEGIS frigates and the ARS command and control system on its LPD amphibious assault ships. Among others.

EADS CASA Military Air Systems (MAS) will perform the necessary tests to precisely demonstrate the integration among various different platforms through the connection of ground test rigs, or through real exercises. The comprehensive analysis and testing will be conducted by experts from the EADS-CASA MAS facilities in Getafe, and at Torrejon Air Force Base. If Spain is successful, it will reach a level of Link 16 integration normally reserved for the USA and UK. See EADs release.

Dec 15/06: DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA received a $5.1 million firm-fixed-price delivery order under previously awarded contract (N00039-00-D-2100) for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the governments of Finland (79%) and Belgium (21%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J. (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by May 2008. This requirement was a directed sole source to DLS by the governments of Finland and Belgium under the FMS Program.

MIDS-LVTs

Nov 23/06: Netherlands interlink. The Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence and Thales Communications B.V. signed 2 contracts worth over EUR 4 million total (about $5 million) covering a datalink management system, remote terminal sites, and 10 years of maintenance. These are not MIDS-LVT systems. Instead, they provide greater reach and better quality of service for all Link 16 participants in their coverage areas, with the ability to connect to any available IP network in order to extend this reach via the deployable control and terminal site.

The systems will also allow the Dutch military to transfer Link 16 tactical pictures to legacy military assets, and manage the Frequency Clearance Agreement to avoid interference with civilian systems. The Dutch are not the only nation to take this approach – vid. Norway’s NORGIL project, for instance, or Switzerland’s country-wide Link 16 network from ThalesRaytheonSystems, as part of its FLORAKO program.

Under this contract, Thales will deliver its Datalink Interface Processor equipment, Datalink Network Management Software and peripheral equipment. With this suite, a Datalink Management System will be set up in Nieuw Milligen and three Remote Terminal Sites in Den Helder, Vredepeel and Ried in the Netherlands. The contract also includes the delivery of one Deployable Network Management System including one Deployable Remote Terminal Site. All of these items will be delivered early 2008. A second contract for the maintenance of these systems for a period of 10 years was also signed. See Thales release.

Nov 13/06: Saudi Arabia JTIDS.DLS announces a $16 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center to provide Link 16 capability to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The contract marks Saudi Arabia’s first adoption of Link 16 capability and will include deliveries of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) to be incorporated on Saudi E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft that entered service in 1986-87. Note that per the descriptions above, JTIDS is MIDS-LVT’s larger first-generation predecessor. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ and Cedar Rapids, IA. A subsequent $49.2 million Boeing contract to integrate the systems was announced in September 2007

Oct 31/06: Turkey. Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $36.7 million firm-fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded contract for Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs). This delivery order is for the government of Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%) and various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by January 2013.

ViaSat reports that the order is an add-on to the Lot 7 award previously announced for the Turkish Air Force, adding 194 MIDS-LVT Type 6 terminals plus other adjustments and bringing the total Lot 7 value to nearly $87 million. This requirement was a directed sole source procurement under the FMS Program; see the Sept 28/06 entry below, which notes Turkey’s fighter purchase. ViaSat is the sole provider of MIDS-LVT terminals to the government of Turkey, while its competitor DLS is the sole provider to Greece (N00039-00-D-2101).

Turkey

Oct 5/06: Greece. DLS in Cedar Rapids, IA is being awarded a $6.2 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This contract is for the government of Greece (100%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by April 2009. This delivery order was competitively procured, with synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities web site and 3 offers received via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce web site. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, CA issued the contract (N00039-00-D-2100). This purchase may be connected with the 48 MIDS-LVTs in Greece’s F-16 order; see the Oct 5/05 entry below.

Note that this is just the notification, not the contract to provide this equipment.

Turkey request

Sept 14/06: Lot 7. ViaSat Inc. receives an additional order from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA, valued at approximately $8.7 million. The order augments the June 28/06 order received by ViaSat as part of the MIDS annual Lot procurements. The Lot 7 add-on consists primarily of LVT (2) ground-based Low Volume Terminals and spares, along with LVT (4) and LVT (6) airborne terminals.

ViaSat also announces an order valued at just over $2.2 million for MIDS terminals from the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane Division in Crane, IN. This order is for LVT (2) ground-based Low Volume Terminals and support equipment. See corporate release.

More

June 28/06: Pakistan.Pakistan requests up to 96 MIDS-LVT terminals; 36 as part of its $3 billion request for up to 36 F-16C/D Block 50/52s, and 60 more MIDS-LVT units in their $1.3 billion request for F-16 mid-life update kits. Observant analysts note that Pakistan only has 28 older-model F-16A/Bs, which implies that these upgrades would be placed in second-hand F-16A/Bs acquired on the global market with US permission (the USA must approve all resales of the military equipment it sells).

Pakistan request

June 28/06: Lot 7. Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $39.6 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs). This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (83.5%) and the governments of Portugal (11%), Turkey (4.5%), and Germany (1%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by May 2008 (N00039-00-D-2101).

ViaSat’s release adds that Delivery of the Lot 7 units is expected to begin in June of 2007. While Portugal and Turkey are considered Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Germany falls under the Memorandum of Understanding amongst the founding MIDS nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the United States). The Lot 7 award includes LVT (1) terminals for F/A-18, E/A-18G, F-16, AC-130 aircraft, the MH-60R helicopter, Link-16 Alaska, China Lake, NAVICP, and Eglin AFB. The award also includes LVT (2) terminals and spares for various Army and Air Force applications including the JICO Support System (JSS), Pocket J Program, PATRIOT Program, Medium Extended Air Defense (MEADS), the Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS), and for Eglin AFB Link-16 applications. During the procurement for Lot 7 the LVT (2) terminal quantities were competed and ViaSat remains as the only certified producer of the LVT (2) to date.

June 28/06: Lot 7. DLS received a $34.6 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (77%) and the governments of Switzerland (12%), Poland (5%), Japan (3%), Australia (2%), and Germany (1%), under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by May 2008 (N00039-00-D-2100).

MIDS-LVTs

Jan 4/06: Canada. DLS announces that it has been selected by the Canadian Forces to provide Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminals (LVT) as part of their Fleet Modernization Program to add Link 16 capability to Canada’s CF-18 Hornet aircraft fleet.

FY 2004 – 2005

Sept 30/05: Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $5.7 million firm-fixed-price delivery order delivery order for MIDS-LVTs from the US military. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by May 2007 (N00039-00-D-2101).

Sept 30/05: Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $5.3 million firm-fixed-price delivery order on Sept 15/05 for MIDS-LVTs from the US military. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), and various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by May 2007 (N00039-00-D-2101).

Sept 30/05: DLS received a $5.5 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the USA (29%) and the government of Australia (71%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be completed by May 2007 (N00039-00-D-2100).

MIDS-LVTs

June 10/05: Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $61 million delivery order (N00039-00-D-2101). This order combines purchases for the U.S. (98%) and the government of Japan (2%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (30%), in various other sites worldwide (70%), and is expected to be complete by May 2007.

June 10/05: DLS received a $32.5 million delivery order (N00039-00-D-2100). This order combines purchases for the U.S. (78.4%) and the governments of Australia (4.5%); Switzerland (8.2%); Japan (6.7%); and New Zealand (2.2%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Wayne, NJ (50%), and Cedar Rapids, IA (50%), and is expected to be complete by May 2007.

Dec 28/04: MIDS JTRS. DLS received a not-to exceed amount of $82.1 million for a cost-plus-incentive-fee/ firm-fixed-price Engineering Change Proposal modification, and a cost-plus-incentive-fee/ firm-fixed-price delivery order. These cover the product improvement of the MIDS-LVT to a JTRS software communications compliant architecture under Contract N00039-00-D-2101 for U.S. Navy and Air Force Platforms. The MIDS-JTRS is intended to replace the MIDS-LVT to provide secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability using the JTRS system, which is intended to become the future foundation on networked radio communication for US forces. Work will be performed at Cedar Rapids, IA (50%) and at Wayne, N.J. (50%), and is expected to be completed by September 2007 (N00039-00-D-2100).

Dec 28/04: MIDS JTRS. Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a not-to-exceed amount of $60.7 million for a cost-plus-incentive-fee/ firm-fixed-price Engineering Change Proposal modification, and a cost-plus-incentive-fee/ firm-fixed-price delivery order. These cover the product improvement of the MIDS-LVT to a JTRS software communications compliant architecture under Contract N00039-00-D-2101 for U.S. Navy and Air Force Platforms. The MIDS-JTRS is intended to replace the MIDS-LVT to provide secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability using the JTRS system, which is intended to become the future foundation on networked radio communication for US forces. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA and is expected to be complete by September 2007 (N00039-00-D-2101).

MIDS JTRS development

June 17/04: DLS received a $48.3 million firm fixed price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the U.S. (76%) and the governments of Switzerland (4.8%), Belgium (4.5%), Taiwan (1%), and Poland (13.7%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed 50/50 in Wayne, NJ and Cedar Rapids, IA and is expected to be complete by May 2006 (N00039-00-D-2100).

June 17/04: Small business qualifier ViaSat in Carlsbad, CA received a $47.1 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for MIDS-LVTs. This delivery order combines purchases for the U.S. (92%) and the governments of Canada (2%), Japan (2%), and Taiwan (4%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, CA (43%), Melbourne, FL (29 percent), and Munich, Germany (28%), and is expected to be completed by May 2006 (N00039-00-D-2101).